Sedona

Every Mile A Memory

Thousands of people travel to Sedona each year for various reasons. For nature fans, Sedona offers a unique landscape and out-of-this-world scenery. Hikers can spend hours exploring these beautiful places, or you can simply drive the gorgeous back roads in your car. People also travel to Sedona for meditation. It is one of the most well-known places for spiritual wellness. People believe that Sedona vortices are energy centers that offer healing and meditation benefits.

We visited Sedona for meditation and relaxation via sound healing, as well as to hike and bask in its beautiful wildlife. 

Our Place:

Airbnb: I traveled to Sedona with three of my friends. We decided to book through Airbnb since we knew it would be more fun to stay together and even make breakfast in the morning. We loved our stay here. Our Airbnb was super cute. The whole house had been remodeled and was unique, cozy, and fun. The whole house had been remodeled and was unique, cozy, and fun. Sedona boasts many luxury hotels and spas, but if you want to truly experience Sedona, I think it's best to stay in a home close to the mountains. Our Airbnb was within easy walking distance of the famous Sugarloaf hike. Sedona is about experiencing and finding yourself, even if it's a simple walk in the neighborhood, so being a little bit further from restaurants and shops is not a bad thing.  

Restaurant:

Mariposa: A well-known restaurant frequented by both locals and tourists. You have to make reservations in advance. And Oh My God, the view is breathtaking! I wish we had gone earlier in the day to have drinks and enjoy the view. 

Owner and chef Lisa Dahl has created a Latin-inspired menu, inspired by the cuisines of Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay, which is beyond phenomenal. She sources the best organic ingredients. She has five restaurants. We got to try three of them, which means I have to go back and try the other two. LOL! Don't forget about me, Lisa. I‘ll be back soon.  

Dahl Restaurante: Another restaurant owned by Lisa, which we visited on our first night. It is an Italian fine dining restaurant with a traditional and intimate atmosphere that serves amazing and tasty dishes. We loved their Osso Bucco.

Pizza Lisa: For our last dinner in Sedona, we got pizza to-go orders. I think we liked Lisa Dahl’s restaurants. And yes, it was worth it ... a great way to end our trip.

Pumphouse: Our sound healing guide recommended this place near Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts. She said it's where the locals go. We had our brunch here before heading back to San Diego. Their blueberry pancake was delish.

Sightseeing:

Sugarloaf: Walking distance from our Airbnb. If you don't pause to take pictures or explore other trails, it's an easy hike that you can finish in less than an hour. 

Devils Bridge: It's the most famous hike in Sedona. Everyone wants to take pictures here so I highly recommend going early. When it gets crowded, it gets a little challenging because of a narrow uphill portion at the end. Otherwise, it's an easy hike.

Chapel of the Holy Cross: On our way to our Airbnb, we decided to make a quick stop at this chapel. Super cool design and architecture and the inside is beautiful. Unfortunately, it gets super crowded with visitors so you cannot truly experience its beauty and energy. It offers beautiful views of Sedona and the surrounding mountains.

Cathedral Rock: Beautiful views from the top. I didn't go all the way up, because we went at sunset and I was worried it would get dark coming down. I regret not going to the top so much. 

Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts: Located downtown, you can purchase souvenirs and unique handmade artwork here. It is pricey since it's where all the tourists go. It also has many restaurants and coffee shops. 

Flagstaff: A good day trip from Sedona. When we visited in October, it was still hot during the day, so after our morning hike, instead of staying inside, we decided to visit Flagstaff. It was a great mini road trip. We enjoyed the drive through the Coconino National Forest and had some beers and snacks in Flagstaff.  

Oak Creek Canyon: An amazing highway that connects to Flagstaff. It runs through Coconino National Forest. You can make short stops, camp out here, or even book a hotel. This is something I might do the next time I visit Sedona. I would spend a restful night in the forest and take a nice long walk.